Adjustable dispenser for comminuted materials



Aug. 10, 1948. E. GOPNER 2,445,582

ADJUSTABLE DISPENSER FOR COMMINUTED MATERIALS Filed July 8. 1947 2 sheets;sheet 1 Aug. 10, 1948. E. GOPNER 2,446,582

ADJUSTABLE DISPENSER FOR COMMINUTED MATERIALS Filed July 8, 1947 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5H G "Hmm ff Patented Aug. 10, 1948 ADJUSTABLE DISPENSER FR COM-` IVHNUTED MATERIALS Ernest Gopner, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Application July 8, 1947, Serial N o. 759,570

1 claim. 1

My invention relates to devices for dispensing granular or comminuted materials.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character, in which the dispenser is provided with an adjustable measuring compartment so as to adjustably feed, within the range of adjustment, varied quantities of granular or comminuted materials stored in the body of the dispenser, or in the container associated with the said dispenser.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character, which is operable alternately by oscillating the control means within an angular range to and fro; each movement ejecting a dose iilled a priori, and iilling and measuring a dose simultaneously, to be ejected on the return movement. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide a dispenser of the aforementioned character provided with agitator means adapted to agitate the comminuted materials immediately prior to their being fed into the measuring pockets provided in the said dispenser device.

A further object of my invention is to provide adjustably controlled wings, manipulatable from a single source; the said wings'being anchorably secured to a nat spring structure, the flexure, or bowing outwardly or inwardly of the said ilat spring eifectuating a larger or smaller adjustment of the said measuring and dispensing pockets.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character, which is simple in construction Vbut practical for the purposes for which it may be utilized, and of such simple, elemental structure as to warrant economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other obiects, added advantages, and ancillary features inherent in my invention will become apparent to persons skilled 'in the art from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which;

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view with certain portions thereof cut away, and with certain elements therefrom shown in an exploded arrangement, so as to more clearly depict the essential details of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the wing sections, and its method of anchorage to the flat adjusting spring comprising an important feature of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the dispenser head of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrows fion Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view looking downwardly in the direction of arrows 5-5 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the various views, my invention is generally designated l, and consists of a body Si and a container 3 secured to the said body. The said container may be made of metal, plastic, or preferably transparent material, so as to show the diminution of the contents as they are consumed during operation and usage of the device.

The body s is provided with a number of hanging ears I0 so that the entire structure may be easily hung upon a wall. The body 9 tapers downwardly to form the pyramidal walls I I, terminating in a cylindrical section I 2 covered and enclosed by the bott-om I3, provided with an ejection port lili. The section I2 has fitted therein the rotor element, which is designated I9, and c-onsists of a semi-cylindrical enclosure coniined by the top, bottom, and walls 20 on a diametral line connected to a hub I3. The said hub also has a triangular extension at the forward part thereof d5', on which the wings 21, comprising an important feature of my invention, ride during adjustment. The said wings are shown in detail in Fig. 2 and comprise a top wall section 21, a downwardly depending wall 3|, having a slotted portion therein 32, for receiving removably, in suitable anchorage arrangement, the slotted portion 25 of the fiat spring 2|.

The top surfaces or walls 2'! ride on the wall d5 of the rotor I3. The said rotor is manipulated through the knob I5, which has a reduced threaded extension I5, the tip of which, designated I l, rests against the boss or central hub I8 heretofore designated. The threaded portion of the stud I6 serves to operate the nut 22 permitting the same to ride thereupon forwardly or backwardly, the said nut being riveted at 23 to the flat spring 2i thus causing the said spring 2l to be bowed outwardly, in which event the wings are brought closer together, providing the largest feeding pocket arrangement, or when the nut rides toward the tip I'I of the screw, the at spring is distended spreading the wings and rey ducing the size of the pockets 45 and 45, which are to be known in this application as the measuring pockets.

The knob I5 is confined in place by the insertion of a U-shaped clip 24, made of wire or other suitable material, engaging an inner iilleted portion on the stem of the screw It positioned inwardly of the wall 25, thus confining the screw it from longitudinal movement in or out, hence compelling the nut 22 to be moved in or out by virtue of the rotation of the knob l in accordance with the larrows indicated in Fig. 1.

The wings are provided with an arcuate bearing portion 28, an arcuate or semi-circular opening 29, and an angularly formed or cut away portion Bt so as to permit of a range of adjustment between the said angular portions Sil, thus limiting the movement of the wings in one direction; the edges tl limiting the movement of the wings in the opposite direction.

The central hub portion is provided with a reduced extension 33, having a threaded opening 3Q, the extension 33 serving as a bearing for the bearing recesses 2t of the wings 21. The entire structure is confined bythe plate 35 which is properly located in assembly by virtue of the key 35 engaging the keyway 31 in the said plate. The said plate is provided with a .central opening 4l to t over the extension 33, and is conned in place by means of the screw 40 which engages the threaded opening 34. The said screw also serves the added function of securing the agitator 42 by virtue of its enlarged central hub portion 43.

When the handle l5 is moved within the slot l from end to end, one of the` openings 38 or 33 is caused to align with one of the pockets 45 or t5, in turn aligning one of the said pockets l5 or 46 with the discharge opening 44. Thus, while one dose is meted out through the exhaust port 44, another charge is being deposited on the bottom i3 ready for the movement of the knob I5 in the opposite direction when the said charge will be ejected, while `a new charge is being deposited through the registration of the other opening in the plate 36. To eectuate an adjustment, the knob is rotated, in the direction of the arrows 48, clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on whether the wings are to be brought together, or separated. When the knob is cscillated in the direction of the arrows 49, the material confined within -the pockets 45 and l is alternately being discharged; when one is discharging, the other is filling, and vice-versa. When lthe wings are spread apart, they narrow the conines of the pockets lita nd 48, and vice-versa.

Assuming that a charge of granular or `comminuted material is in the pocket 46, ready to be discharged by movement of the knob I5 and, before discharging the same, it is decided to change the dosage, or the volume of the compartments 45 and 46, by rotating the knob in the proper direction, the material confined therein will be forced upwardly into the container, and thus the adjustment may be made at any time prior to the actual dispensing ofthe granular material. Simultaneously with the movement of the knob I5 in the direction of the arrows 49, the agitator 42 is also moved back and forth agitating the granular material. Such a device may be used conveniently as a granular coffee retainer, or for flour, or other substances which are occasionally meted out in accordance with recipe requirements, and hence the agitator 42 serves an admirable function in this respect, In View of the fact-that such materials, when they remain static for some time, have a tendency to pack tightly, agitation is a very important function needed in the handling of such materials.

Y`I believe I have de-scribed and illustrated, rather succinctly, the nature and the construction of my invention and, inasmuch as the same is susceptible of modiications, alterations, and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to all modi- `caticnaalterations, and improvements coming within the scope and spirit of my invention, as Well as any that may be implied by the preferred embodiment illust-rated and embraced in the drawings, and as well any improvements that may fall within the purview of the foregoing disclosure; my invention to be limited only by the subjoined claim.

4Having thus described and disclosed my invention, what I claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A dispenser for comminuted materials comprising, a body provided with a` container retaining portion at its top and a cylindrical eX- tension at its betteln, a slotted portion in the said `cylindricfftl extension located on its peripheral surface, a semi-cylindrical rotor rotatably confined in the said cylindrical extension dei'lning two measuring pockets in the said cylindrical extension, manipulating means passing through the said slot and resting against the central portion of the said rotor, the said manipulating means being provided with a threaded stem portion, means-rotatably securing the said stem portion preventing longitudinal movement thereof, a pair of wings angularly and adjustably disposed and pivotably-secured to the central portion of the said rotor, resilient means threadably secured at its midpoint to the said threaded stem portion and having its termini secured to the said wings, and a cover plate secured to the central portonof the said rotor confining the said wings rotatably and 'adjustably ERNEST GOPNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.8,054 Fawkes Jan. 22, 1878 2,243,335 Elliott May 27, 1941 

